Reduced Serological Response to COVID-19 Booster Vaccine is Associated with Reduced B Cell Memory in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease; VARIATION [VAriability in Response in IBD AgainsT SARS-COV-2 ImmunisatiON]

• Published in: Journal of Crohn's and colitis 2023-10, Vol.17 (9), p.1445-1456
• Main Authors: Doherty, Jayne, O’Morain, Neil, Stack, Roisin, Tosetto, Miriam, Inzitiari, Rosanna, O’Reilly, Sophie, Gu, Lili, Sheridan, Juliette, Cullen, Garret, Mc Dermott, Edel, Buckley, Maire, Horgan, Gareth, Mulcahy, Hugh, Walshe, Margaret, Ryan, Elizabeth J, Gautier, Virginie, Prostko, John, Frias, Edwin, Daghfal, David, Doran, Peter, O’Morain, Colm, Doherty, Glen A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1873-9946; 1876-4479
• DOI: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjad065

Abstract Background and Aims Patients with inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] have an attenuated response to initial COVID-19 vaccination. We sought to characterize the impact of IBD and its treatment on responses after the third vaccine against SARS-CoV-2. Methods This was a prospective multicentre observational study of patients with IBD [n = 202] and healthy controls [HC, n = 92]. Serological response to vaccination was assessed by quantification of anti-spike protein [SP] immunoglobulin [Ig]G levels [anti-SPIgG] and in vitro neutralization of binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 [ACE2]. Peripheral blood B-cell phenotype populations were assessed by flow cytometry. SARS-CoV-2 antigen-specific B-cell responses were assessed in ex vivo culture. Results Median anti-SP IgG post-third vaccination in our IBD cohort was significantly lower than HCs [7862 vs 19 622 AU/mL, p